Anika LaLopa

Movement and an active lifestyle was a big part of Anika's upbringing thanks to a physical therapist mom and a military dad. She was born and raised in Eastern Central Europe, and credits her mother with first introducing her to yoga during her childhood. But it wasn't until later in life, in her twenties when she started to truly deepen her evolving practice. Prior to becoming a certified Yoga Teacher, she has had over ten years of experience in the health and fitness industry as a corporate wellness director, personal trainer, group exercise instructor, sponsored athlete and model.

Anika completed her yoga immersion and teacher training in Anusara and Rajanaka Yoga during 2011-2012, and has officially become a certified Yoga Teacher in 2012. She is an experienced registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She has taught classes at various studios, gyms, fitness and corporate wellness centers in the Greater Rochester NY area until September 2014 when she moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands where she's been leading classes since.

Through her extensive studies and practice, Anika has become well versed in different styles of Yoga, such as Anusara, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa, but her distinctive teaching style is a result of her own authentic experience, passion and interpretation of discovering various dimensions of the human form. Her intention is to help others see themselves differently through self-study, awareness, and observation. She designs creative sequences merging strength, flexibility, movement, awareness and mindfulness with meditation.

Off the mat, Anika is a nature and animal lover, fosterer of rescue animals, amateur photographer, and avid standup paddler and surfer. "When you watch surfers riding waves, you'll see them practicing their yoga. Every time I'm on the water paddling or surfing, I'm already living and practicing my yoga. In a very general sense, any practice that brings you into greater wholeness or unity, whatever it is that you do to bring you to a place of center and truth is yoga."